The Monster Hunter franchise is having a pretty great year. Monster Hunter Rise was a huge success and that is not surprising considering Monster Hunter World’s success. World was my first Monster Hunter experience but thankfully not my last. I enjoyed Monster Hunter Rise just as much, and was incredibly eager to experience the turn-based side of Monster Hunter with their spin-off series. As a huge fan of RPGs and turn-based ones at that, this title was certainly on my radar for a while.
Expectation vs Reality
The first thing I noticed about Monster Hunter Stories 2 was unfortunately its graphics. This experience reminded me a lot of Pokémon Sword and Shield, promising one thing but delivering another. Thankfully though, like Sword and Shield, I still enjoyed this game despite that. I have never been one to judge a game by its graphics and never will be, but sometimes trailers can fool me so it was jarring at first. Cutscenes looked phenomenal but the open world just did not live up to my expectations.
Luckily though, I quickly got used to Monster Hunter Stories 2’s charm, aesthetic and overall atmosphere and grew to love it. It gave me everything I wanted in an RPG and in a Monster Hunter game, so I certainly cannot complain about that. The few hiccups it did have did not diminish the overall experience for me and I beat the game with a huge amount of adoration for it in my heart.
Blending Classic Monster Hunter Elements Into A Turn-Based RPG
As with any Monster Hunter title, Stories 2 contains that classic Monster Hunter mechanic. Although the battles are turn-based, you will still be hunting monsters for their parts to upgrade your gear. On top of that, you’ll also be searching their dens for their eggs to add Monsties to your party. It is in this mechanic where Monster Hunter Stories 2 feels like a monster collection game, not just a monster hunting game. I must say I am a sucker for monster collection, and this too was a huge reason I was so excited to sink my teeth into this RPG.
I loved hunting specific monsters for their parts, hatching numerous eggs to get the best genes and ultimately grinding like every Monster Hunter game makes you do. However, it never feels repetitive or mundane. Instead, each battle rewards parts you need for gear and EXP you need for your Rider and your Monsties. Nothing goes to waste here and that’s what I love about all of the Monster Hunter games.
Another thing this game has in common with its parent franchise is the post-game content. Monster Hunter games are notorious for opening up once you complete the main story, and Stories 2 is no exception. Feeling brave? Hunt high rank monsters and search for their eggs. Want some company? Do co-op quests and grind for gear with a friend. So much more gameplay awaits you when you finish the story and in my opinion, that’s where Monster Hunter games truly begin to shine.
The Monstie/Rider Relationship
Monster Hunter Stories 2 is very interesting because, like the original Monster Hunter Stories game, it allows you to see a different side of these monsters. You see, Riders use Monsties in battle, bond with them and even use to them traverse the terrain around them. This game is about building that relationship with your Monsties, particularly Ratha, and proving to the hunters that if raised correctly, monsters can be good.
It reminds me a lot of my two pit bull mixes because pit bulls constantly get a bad reputation but my two are the sweetest dogs. When raised with love and care anything has the opportunity to be good, no matter the genetics. The same can be said about each and every monster in this game. Even powerful ones like Nergigante can be tamed and used in battle. I rather enjoyed watching the story unfold and prove the hunters wrong about Ratha and his mark on the world. In the end, it came down to his relationship with his rider that shaped his destiny.
It was also wonderful to see fan-favorite monsters have the opportunity to shine in battle. Each monster gets their own animation for their Kinship skill that is unique to them. These Kinship skill can no doubt turn the tide of a battle, but some are also hilarious and perfectly fit each monster. These Kinship skills are just another way that this game allows the monsters to become the heroes of this story and shed a different light upon them.
Don’t Go Alone
Whether you are plaything through the story or playing co-op, you’ll almost always have a buddy alongside you. Sometimes throughout the story it will be a fellow rider but other times it will be a hunter. Either way, these buddies will provide support, battle tactics and contribute to each battle in huge ways. They will also have access to Kinship skills that, when activated at the same time as yours, deal massive damage to enemies. Utilize that to overcome even the toughest of monsters.
Co-op was again, one of my favorite things about this game. I adore playing games with my roommate and the Monster Hunter series has been one of our favorites to play together. I will say, multiplayer opens up a lot more after you beat the main story but certain quests are available throughout the game. These are great opportunities to search for eggs, level up or hunt monsters for their parts.
Co-op in a turn-based game was relatively new for me, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. It allowed me and my roommate to strategize what our plan would be throughout each battle. That is the main thing I already love about turn-based RPGs but to do it with a friend was even more enjoyable. Do yourself a favor and find a buddy to go on a few hunts with. It’ll be worth your time.
